Wednesday, Dec. 11, Shaltz said there has been a change in strategy for the NEW Life project and that it does not include Civic Park.

“At this time, (Civic Park) will have to come off the table,” Shaltz said.

Rather than go with a new facility on the Civic Park spot, St. Luke’s NEW Life Enterprises will expand its gymnasium to house production, said Steve Wolbert, a spokesman for Flint-based Diplomat Pharmacy, which is partnering with NEW Life for garment production.

“In terms of the NEW Life Center, our goal with that is to support the sisters,” said Wolbert. “We don’t really view this as a negative thing.”

Wolbert said the work on the NEW Life gym will be complete by the end of February.

With uncertainty over whether state and federal officials would lift the historic designation at Civic Park to allow for demolition, Wolbert said NEW Life could not wait on a decision.

“We just know that we can’t let them wait,” he said. “They need to be in the position to expand their business right now.”

NEW Life founders Sister Carol Weber and Sister Judy Blake, who started the medical wear enterprise in 2008 as an employment pathway out of
crime and poverty for area women, could not be reached for comment.

“Over the course of time, and as the Civic Park neighborhood goes through this revitalization process, we will listen to all stakeholders,” Wolbert said. “They will provide us the road map for how to proceed and then we will do what we can to help make their vision for Civic Park and NEW Life a reality.”

A study commissioned by the Genesee County Land Bank found that there have been changes in the conditions of the properties and areas of the neighborhood that don’t contribute to the historic integrity of the district, according to a news release.

Civic Park, however, is still in a designated historic spot under the revised boundaries of the study.

“From our perspective, we own over 200 properties in the neighborhood that we want to deal with – that we get calls on all the time,” said Heidi Phaneuf, community resource planner with the land bank. “Once we get the boundaries shrunk, we can push really hard with the state to get more funds.”

The land bank will host two public meetings where the public can give feedback on a proposal to change the historic district boundaries on Thursday, Dec. 12. The meetings will be at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at Joy Tabernacle Church, 2025 Chevrolet Ave.

Shaltz said he was disappointed that he won't be able to contribute the Civic Park site to the project but said the new plan could allow for more future expansion at NEW Life.

"I'm certainly not disappointed in NEW Life," said Shaltz. "I'm just disappointed I couldn't bring Civic Park to the table."